Lake Placid has been selected as a backup site for bobsled, luge, and skeleton events for the 2026 Olympics in case the track currently being rebuilt in Italy is not completed in time for the Milan-Cortina Games. The century-old track in Cortina, which has been dormant for nearly 20 years, is undergoing reconstruction at a cost of nearly $90 million. While Italian officials have expressed confidence in meeting the deadline, the Olympic Regional Development Authority in Lake Placid is preparing a contingency plan.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul stated that the state is honored to be chosen as a backup site and will collaborate with Italian organizers to develop a detailed backup plan for the sliding events. Lake Placid, which has hosted the Winter Games twice before in 1932 and 1980, would offer a unique Olympic experience if called upon to host the events.
